Window

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a window assembly comprising upper and lower units, the lower unit consisting of two glazed parts situated side by side in a common plane. Each of the two glazed parts is hingedly mounted for horizontal swinging movement. The lower unit is moreover vertically slidable as a unit.

United States Patent [72] lnventor Jack H. Leedham 1,187,915 6/1916 Kleinman 49/177 X 12 Clarendon Ave.. Ottawa 3, Ontario, 1,531,333 3/1925 Duffy 52/304 X Canada 1,851,515 3/1932 Huntet al. 52/304X [21] Appl. Nov 862,269 2,020,926 11/1935 Armento 49/177 X [22] Filed Sept. 30, 1969 2,233,952 3/1941 Lipsett 52/304 [45] ten e J 2 1971 2,260,013 10/1941 Elvers 49/352 X 3,256,641 6/1966 Johnson 49/419 WINDOW FOREIGN lAjTENTS lclaim'gnmwing Figs 652,599 4/1951 Great Britain. 49/177 804,568 10/1936 France 49/177 [52] U.S.Cl 49/162,

49/177 Primary Examiner-Dennis L. Taylor 5| 1 Int. Cl 1205a 15/22 Marsha", Mack and Lamb [50] Field of Search 49/162. 177,419,161,169,170,17l;52/304 [56] References cited ABSTIiU XCT: The invention relates to a window assembly comprising upper and lower units, the lower unit consisting of UNITED STATES PATENTS two glazed parts situated side by side in a common plane. Each 623,390 4/1899 Dickerson 49/360 of the two glazed parts is hingedly mounted for horizontal 661,848 11/1900 Buzziniet al.. 49/162 swinging movement. The lower unit is moreover vertically 1,015,050 1/19 2 March 49/177 slidable as a unit.

1 Y 11 J5 25 g WINDOW This invention relates to windows, particularly. of the type in which at least part of the window has both vertical sliding movement and pivotal movement about a vertical axis.

It is extremely difficult to satisfactorily clean the outside of windows, usually requiring ladders, and also the removal of screens. With vertically sliding sash windows, even if the screens are removable from inside the building, it is not possible to clean all the window from inside as the sliding part overlaps the other part of the window and this other part cannot be reached. Various constructions have been proposed to avoid this difficulty of cleaning, such as pivoting the entire window, including screen, or making the window removable from inside the building. These constructions are expensive and the removal of window is difficult and liable to result in damage to the window.

The present invention is concerned with a window construction in which a window unit comprises two cooperating parts, situated side-by-side in one plane, the unit sliding vertically as a whole, the parts each pivoting. about a vertical axis at their edges. Thus for ventilation the unit can be moved up and down, and to clean the windows the parts are pivoted inwards. It is a feature of the present invention that the hinges about which the parts of the window pivot also act astrack members for the vertical sliding of the unit as a whole. This provides a considerable advantage as the number of parts is minimal, reducing cost and also only a single frame is necessary, again reducing cost. If separate tracks for sliding and hinges for pivotting were used, it would normally be necessary to provide a double frame construction, an inner frame for each pivotal part, the pivotal parts mounted within an outer frame which slides vertically.

It is another feature of the invention that the hinges are of plastic, and the window frames of wood or other nonmetallic material having a low heat conduction. The use of these materials reduces or prevents ice building up on the inside of the windows at the hinges and avoids other condensation problems. The windows can be double-glazed, using individual glass panes separately mounted in the frames, or preassemblecl sealed units can be used.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a window comprising a window unit having two parts situated sideby-side in one plane, the unit slidable vertically as a whole and the parts pivotable about vertical axes at their outer edges,

' track means mounting the window unit for vertical sliding and pivot means mounting the two parts for pivottingabout the vertical axes, the pivot means cooperating with the track means for the vertical sliding of the unit. Thus the pivot or hinge means which mount the two parts for opening andclosing about vertical axes also form part of the track assembly for the vertical movement of the window unit as a whole. Conveniently, hinges somewhat of the conventionalform are used, with a protrusion on one leaf or blade of eachhinge cooperatively engaging with a complementary track. The hinges are readily made by molding.

The invention will be readily understood by the following description of certain embodiments, by way of example, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a front view ofa window,

FIG. 2 is a cross section through a hinge and track, on the line 2-2 ofFIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one form of hinge, as in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a cross section on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 5 is a crosssection on the line 5-5 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 6 is a cross section on the line 66 of FIG. I,

FIG. 7 illustrates a modification of the. frame ofawindow part for an alternative form of glazing,

FIG. 8 is a side view of one form of window locking mechanism, and

FIG. 9 is a cross section through one formof window raising and lowering device.

FIG. 1 illustrates a window comprising an upper unit 10, in the present example fixed, and a lower unit indicated generally at l] and having two parts 12 and 13. Each part, 12 or 13, has inner and outer sides, or stiles, l4 and I5 and top and bottom rails 16 and 17. The lower unit 11 can slide up and down vertically, as a whole, and the two parts I2 and 13 can pivot at their outer sides 15, by an arrangement as follows.

Attached to the outer sides I5, at top and bottom thereof, are hinges I8. As can be seen in FIG. 3, each hinge 18 comprises two blades or leaves 19 and 20. At their adjacent edges the two blades have cooperating sections 21 through which a pin 22 passes to pivotally connect the blades, as in normal hinges. One blade 19 is attached to the side 15 of a window part by screws passing through holes 23. To strengthen the blade and improve the attachment to the side 15, a protrusion 24 can be formed on the blade, the protrusion seating in a cor responding recess 25 in the side 15.

To provide for the vertical sliding of the unit 11, a track member 30 is attached to a frame 3l. Conveniently the track member 30 is recessed in the frame 31. The track member 30 has a groove 32running its vertical length, the groove having a cross section similar to a key hole; that is it has a substantially spherical portion 33 and a parallel sided slot portion 34 connecting the spherical portion 33 to the surface of the track member 30. The other blade 20of each hinge I8 is provided with a protrusion 35 which is complementary in cross section to the groove 32, and can slide therein. This is seen in FIG. 2.

Attached to the top rails I6, towards the outer ends thereof, are cords or wires 36. The cords 36 lead upwards and pass over pulleys 37, passing sideways and then eventually down to a window raising and lowering device, to be described later.

To prevent draughts at the bottom ofthe unit 11, flexible tubular inserts 40 are provided in the bottom surfaces of the bottom rails 17 (FIG. 5). A suitable material for the inserts is nylon hose, although other materials can be used. The insert engages with the sill 41 when the window unit II is in the pulley lowered position.

FIG. 4 illustrates the sealing between the upper and lower units 10 and II. The top rail 16 of each part 12 and 13 has an extension 42 which abuts against a. similar extension 43 formed on the bottom frame member 44 oftop unit 10. A strip of sealing material 45 is attached to one of the rail 16 or frame member 44.

The window units are preferably glazed with two panes of glass separated by a gap. In FIGS. 2, 4 5 and 6, the panes of glass 50, separated by a gap or space 51, are held in the frame by glaziers putty or similar material 52. To improve the insulating properties of the double glazing, the space 51 can be partially evacuated. FIG. 6 illustrates one way of going this. A hole 53 is drilled at an angle through the bottom rail 17, the hole opening at one end into the space 5] and its other end opening into the surface 54 which is on the inside of the bottom rail I7. A valve 55 is secured to the bottom rail 17 in alignment with hole 53. The valve has a spring loaded ball 56 and a cap 57. To evacuate the space 51,. the cap 57 is removed and a pump, such as a bicycle pump is attached to the valve, air being sucking out from the space 51.

In use, the lower unit 11 can be raised and lowered as a whole, with the two parts 12 and I3 in a closed position with their inner sides 14 abutting. The two parts are held in a closed position by latches 58. The lower unit can thus be used for normal ventilation, being held at convenient positions by convenient means, a typical example of which will be disclosed later. When it is desired to clean the outside of the parts 12 and 13, these can be swung open on the hinges 18. The vertical movement of the unit is obtained by the cooperation of the hinges I8 and the track members 30. Thus the hinges I8 provide for both movements of the window unit 11, the vertical sliding, and the pivotal opening ofthe parts.

A constant source of trouble with windows is the use of metal parts, resulting in condensation on the inner side of the window. In the present invention, the hinges are formed of a low heat conducting material. For example, they are molded in nylon, and the track is preferably of similar material. Thus there is no condensation or buildup of ice on the inside of the window in very cold weather.

With a slight modification, the window can use preassembled double-glazed units. FIG. 7 illustrates a modification, as made to the top rail 16, to take a preassembled unit comprising two glass panes 60 sealed to a spacing member 61. The unit is held in grooves formed in the sides and rails, as indicated at 62 in FIG. 7.

FIG. 8 illustrates one form of locking mechanism for holding the lower unit 11 in the closed position, and which can be used for supporting the unit in a number of open positions. The mechanism comprises a latch member, indicated generally at 65, which is mounted on the window unit, on the outer sides 15, and a locking plate 66 which is fastened to the window frame 31. The latch 65 comprises a base plate 67 attached to side by screws through holes 68, and a pivotally mounted cranked lever 69 having upper and lower arms 70 and 71, respectively. Lever 69 is mounted at its center on the base plate 67 by means ofa rivet 72. The locking plate 66 has a series of tooth formations 73 thereon and with the lower unit 11 in the downward and closed position, the end of the upper arm 70 of lever 69 engages beneath one of the tooth formations 73, as seen in FIG. 8. This effectively prevents the window unit being pushed up, unless the lever 69 is moved to release arm 70. When the window unit 11 is raised, it can be held in a desired position by pivoting lever 69 so that the lower end of arm 71 engages with a selected one of the tooth formations 73, as indicated in phantom at 74.

To assist in raising and lowering the lower unit I] a mechanical device can be used, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 9. The device, 80, comprises a housing 81 which is attached to a wall, or frame, adjacent the window. The housing contains a first axle 82 on which are mounted a gear 83, a drum 84 and a spring 85, and also contains a second axle 86 on which is mounted a gear 87. A handle 88 is mounted on the end of axle 86, exterior of the housing. The two gears 83 and 87 are in mesh with each other. The spring 85 is a coil spring, the inner end attached to the axle 82 and its outer end in engagement with, or attached to, the housing 81. The cords, or wires, 36 (FIG. 1) are united into a single cord, or wire 89 which is attached to the drum 84.

The spring is so arranged that it is wound up as the window unit 11 is lowered. The energy thus stored by the spring assists in raising the window unit. The window unit is raised by winding the handle 88 which in turn winds the cord or wire 89 on to the drum 84 via gears 87 and 83.

It is intended that the frames of the window parts, that is sides 14 and 15, and the rails 16 and 17 be of wood, or some other material of low heat conductivity. The frame 31 is similarly of wood and it is intended that an entire window can be installed to replace existing windows, as well as being installed as original structure in new building. While the upper unit 10 has been described as fixed, it can be of other forms, for example, it may also slide up and down.

I claim:

1. A window assembly comprising a nonmetallic frame having a sill, head and side jambs, each said side jamb having a track of molded plastic composition fixed therein and extending from said sill to said head jamb, each said track having a flat surface spaced inwardly of said side jamb and a groove of keyhole cross section disposed in said flat surface, said flat surface and groove extending longitudinally of said track from said sill to said head jamb, a first pair of hinge members of molded plastic composition slidingly mounted in each said groove, each said hinge member comprising an integral blade seated on said flat surface, hinge sections thereon, and a protrusion extending perpendicularly therefrom into said groove, said protrusion having a cross section complementary to that of said groove for sliding fit therein, an upper window sash and a pair of lower window sashes mounted in said frame, each of said lower sashes having side rails, and a second pair of hinge members of molded plastic composition fixed to said side rail of each side lower sash, each said second hinge member having hinge sections in interfitting engagement with said hinge sections of one of said first hinge members, and a hinge pin connecting the interfitting hinge sections of said first and second hinge members, each said lower sash being independently swingable on said hinge members fixed thereto, each said lower sash being independently slidable with said hinge members fixed thereto along said track into and out of overlapping relation with said upper sash. 

1. A window assembly comprising a nonmetallic frame having a sill, head and side jambs, each said side jamb having a track of molded plastic composition fixed therein and extending from said sill to said head jamb, each said track having a flat surface spaced inwardly of said side jamb and a groove of keyhole cross section disposed in said flat surface, said flat surface and groove extending longitudinally of said track from said sill to said head jamb, a first pair of hinge members of molded plastic composition slidingly mounted in each said groove, each said hinge member comprising an integral blade seated on said flat surface, hinge sections thereon, and a protrusion extending perpendicularly therefrom into said groove, said protrusion having a cross section complementary to that of said groove for sliding fit therein, an upper window sash and a pair of lower window sashes mounted in said frame, each of said lower sashes having side rails, and a second pair of hinge members of molded plastic composition fixed to said side rail of each side lower sash, each said second hinge member having hinge sections in interfitting engagement with said hinge sections of one of said first hinge members, and a hinge pin connecting the interfitting hinge sections of said first and second hinge members, each said lower sash being independently swingable on said hinge members fixed thereto, each said lower sash being independently slidable with said hinge members fixed thereto along said track into and out of overlapping relation with said upper sash. 